Space Strategy

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Tim Chrisman, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for the Future (F4F). They discuss the need for space infrastructure and logistics and associated financing. Tim describes the Foundation for the Future's Space Corporation concept, efforts by the Foundation to create a broader conversation about space infrastructure, as well as several big infrastructure ideas. They outline the challenge the US faces in China, and the critical role space will play in the determination of the future our children will live in. Finally, they cover what sort of space agenda is worthy of the nation, and how F4F is working with Congress to create a new arm to enable a brighter future and millions of new jobs.

Tim:

The Space Corporation Act:

Infrastructure for the Future:

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Theresa Hitchens, space pundit, NATO and nuclear war expert, former UN diplomat, and now space reporter for Breaking Defense. They discuss her essay, "How ‘The Expanse’ Is A Cautionary Tale For Real World Space Commercialization," exploring its parallels to current commercial space development and regulation, and parallels to history. Next, they address the utility of science fiction to strategy, and why strategists should read scifi. They cover the benefits space brings to understanding our reality, to economic benefits today, to future economic benefits from space resources, the human need as a migratory species to expand and explore and to ensure survival. They outline the importance of sustaining space as a resource for human betterment; avoiding conflict that may be unnecessary over resources, dampening tensions and misunderstandings among nation states. Additionally, they detail the PRC's space weapons program and the utility of norms. They also discuss Space Force, 'warfighting,' military space doctrine, nuclear deterrence, SDI, norms and commercial regulation. Finally, they close by talking about opportunities before the National Space Council and Space Force / USSPACECOM leadership to address current problems as well as shape the far future.

Theresa:  

Theresa's Journalism at Breaking Defense:

To Boldly Go:

Strategy Strikes Back

Winning Westeros

Forwarding Multilateral Space Governance: Next Steps

CISSM:

OST:

Chinese test of a FOB?: 

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Dr. Scott Pace, Director of the Space Policy Institute at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs and former Deputy Assistant to the President and Executive Secretary of the National Space Council from 2017-2020. They discuss the criticality of broad and bipartisan consensus to sustainable space exploration and development. Next, follows a discussion on exploration policy, space as a warfighting domain, China, spacepower theory (Dolman’s Astropolitics vs Bowen’s Continental Seapower), arms control, the record of the National Space Council’s space policy directives, their rational and significance. The speakers cover the possible futures in space depending on whether we can live off the land and pay our own way leading to different analogies: settlements, ‘Everest’, ‘McMurdo’, and deep sea drilling platforms. They provide details about space property rights, development and industrialization, asteroid defense and how it is getting worked into the missions of the agencies such as NASA and DoD. Finally, they discuss opportunities available to the new administration and space council and define a space agenda worthy of our nation and its values.

Dr. Pace:

GWU Space Policy Institute

Report on National Space Council Activities

National Space Policy

A New Vision for Deep Space Exploration and Development

National Near Earth Object Strategy and Action Plan

Spacepower Doctrine

Artemis Accords

Collected Space Space Policy Directives

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Col. Eric Felt, Director of Air Force Research Lab Space Vehicles Directorate--The Space Force's Lab. Col. felt provides an overview of the role of the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Space Vehicles, its size, budget, and relation to the Space Force. They discuss how AFRL cooperates with funding agencies and partner agencies (SDA, Space RCO, AF RCO, SSC, DARPA, DIU) as well as with the commercial sector. Next, they dive into AFRL's past successes such as DSX, Eagle/Mycroft and their impact on deterrence, as well as current experiments such as NTS-3, SPIDER, and CHPS. Then the focus shifts to a discussion on how the Space Force is considering an exciting future of Cislunar commerce, the possibility of space mining, power beaming, settlements and on-orbit servicing, assembly and maintenance (OSAM), and future roles and missions including the defense of commerce, planetary defense, search and rescue which might arise. They provide a definition for the meaning of "warfighting" and how it forms a lens for investment to ensure deterrence. Finally the close with a discussion on the working culture of both Space Force and AFRL, and the "opportunity to shape the opportunity."

Col Felt:

Space Force (and Recruiting):

https://www.airforce.com/spaceforce?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkYnvmazH8AIVmonICh2ngAXHEAAYASAAEgIULPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

AFRL (and Recruiting):

"One Lab Two Services":

Space Vehicles:

Primer for S&T:

Space Technology Funding:

NTS-3:

DSX:

Eagle/Mycroft:

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Tyler Bates, a Captain in the USSF about his article in The Space Force Journal about Cislunar Mission Concepts for the Department of Defense.  They discuss the strategic importance of the Moon, China's activities, and potential U.S. Space Force roles in enabling and securing commerce.  They delve into specific mission concepts of satellite communication, precision navigation and timing, space domain awareness, Lunar surface awareness, as well as deep space search and rescue and planetary defense. They also cover how Tyler got interested in Cislunar, what made him join the Space Force, what it is like to be a guardian, and how the Space Force's culture is evolving.

Tyler Bates:

The Space Force Journal: 

The Guardian Ideal

Gray Zone Project: 

DARPA DRACO:

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Dr. Bhavya Lal, senior advisor to the NASA Administrator on Budget and Finance. They discuss NASA's Artemis Lunar Program, the Chinese Space Program and Commercial Sector, why the Moon and human presence is important, the promise of nuclear power and propulsion, and NASA's relevance to the Climate Change task force. They examine the soft-power implications of sustained presence and how leadership translates into benefits that accrue to the first-mover. They consider how NASA is fulfilling its charter to maximize commercial participation through investments in space commercialization, space industrialization, the scale of space resources, in-situ resource utilization and on-orbit servicing assembly and maintenance (OSAM), public-private-partnerships, and the role of government in building a vibrant commercial sector. They review whole-of-nation tie-ins to Artemis, including DOE, USGS, and cooperation memos with USSPACECOM and USSF. They cover the key technologies the US must advance for a spacefaring future of development and settlement. They examine NASA's role in planetary defense and resource mapping. They discuss NASA's charter to " to the maximum extent possible, the fullest commercial use of space." They conclude with the actions necessary for America to sustain its leadership.

Bhavya Lal:

China International Lunar Research Station:

NASA-USSF MOU: 

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Mandy Vaughn, founder and CEO of GXO, and former CEO of VOX Space. They discuss the return of the National Space Council with its new Secretary, Chirag Parikh, and Vice President Kamala Harris, the User's Advisory Group, and continuities that will likely remain a priority. They also highlight the recent State of the Space Industrial Base event. Mandy describes a broad vision for space economic development involving private spaceflight, in-space logistics, and in-space manufacturing. Mandy discusses the challenges brought by lowered cost of access and the global competitiveness challenges associated with the 'rise of the rest.'  They discuss the implications of seeing space as critical infrastructure, the need for a 'Northstar Vision' (and how to socialize it for bi-partisan sustainment), the need for STEM builders to enable scale, and how to knit together international partnerships. They end by discussing a number of potential topics ripe for consideration as executive orders, the urgent need for action...and whether we are persuaded to act.

Mandy Vaughn:

GXO:

State of the Space Industrial Base 2021 EVENT:

State of the Space Industrial Base 2020 Report:

National Space Council User's Advisory Group:

Virgin Galactic Launch:

Blue Origin Launch:

Inspiration 4: 

Activities of Last Space Council:

A New Vision for Deep Space Exploration and Development:

VOX Space:

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director for Secure World Foundation.  They discuss 'space sustainability,' The Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS), the problem of space debris, the construction of international norms through unilateral precedent, bilateral and multilateral fora, the Artemis Accords, arms control theory, the status global counter-space and anti-satellite weapons, classification issues, space traffic management, Space Force roles and missions, and a positive agenda for international cooperation and space norms.

Victoria Samson:

https://swfound.org/about-us/our-team/victoria-samson/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-samson-6338aa13/

https://www.rand.org/pubs/perspectives/PEA887-2.html

SWF Biden administration briefing book:

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Bill Bruner, CEO and co-founder of New Frontier Frontier Aerospace.  They discuss New Frontier Aerospace's vision of a reusable rocket-based mach-8 hypersonic suborbital cargo system. The discussion covers the Space Force doctrine, X-15, DC-X, seams in air and space power projection, Space Tourism's recent successes with Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin, equity concerns with billionaire rocket programs and their answer, Space Force's Rocket Cargo program, China's hypersonic program, the movement and settlement of space, commercial roles, the drive of commercial space to make humanity multiplanetary, advanced space propulsion, and next steps for U.S. space policy.

Bill Bruner:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-bruner-490b098

https://dbb.defense.gov/Members/Bill-Bruner/

New Frontier Aerospace

https://www.nfaero.com/

National Security Implications of Inexpensive Space Access

https://fas.org/spp/eprint/bruner.htm

FAST Space Study

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/3193/1

https://www.maxwell.af.mil/News/Display/Article/2384716/acsc-schriever-space-scholars-expands-to-meet-demand-for-space-studies/

Rocket Cargo:

https://www.afrl.af.mil/News/Article/2646782/department-of-the-air-force-announces-fourth-vanguard-program/

https://www.airforcemag.com/rocket-cargo-air-force-fourth-vanguard/

https://www.defensedaily.com/wp-content/uploads/post_attachment/157919.pdf

Chinese Hypersonics (airbreathing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzNhrUQ_Qls

Al Globus' High Frontier: An Easier Way

https://www.amazon.com/High-Frontier-Easier-Way-ebook/dp/B07FYWM41W

NASA Nuclear Thermal:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-nuclear-thermal-propulsion-reactor-concept-awards

DARPA Nuclear Thermal:

https://www.darpa.mil/program/demonstration-rocket-for-agile-cislunar-operations

Dusty Plasma Fission Fragment Rocket Engine:

https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/718391main_Werka_2011_PhI_FFRE.pdf

X-15

https://www.nasa.gov/specials/60th/x-15/

DC-X

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/dc-x-the-nasa-rocket-that-inspired-spacex-and-blue-origin

AFWERX

https://afwerx.com/

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Dr. M.V. "Coyote" Smith, a leading intellectual father of the Space Force, spacepower advocate, and professor of strategic studies at the Department of Spacepower's Schriever Scholars, where he educates America's Future Space Strategists. They discuss the Schriever Scholars Strategy Seminar, the increasing strategic importance of space, and space as a domain of commerce. They explore the needs and rationale for the Space Force and the continued need to drive toward full departmental independence. Dr. Smith provides an overview of spacepower theory and book recommendations for those interested in spacepower. They also touch on advanced propulsion, active debris removal, space solar power and planetary defense. They examine the value of bold, risk-taking leadership, and its role in innovative thought such as the NSSO Space Solar Power report and Fast Space Report. Finally, they outline the expanded roles and mission, actions available to the Administration and Congress, and the long-term mission of the Space Force.

Coyote:

The Grand Vision:

America Needs a Space Corps

Avoiding the Dragon's Trap (national debt & space resources

Schriever Scholars

Space Solar Power Study

SSPIDR

SSP Library

FAST Space Study

Billion Year Plan

AFRL's new Primer on Cislunar Space:

Rocket Cargo: